Firearm Safety
 

Over 800 children under the age of 14 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for unintentional firearm-related injuries in 2002. 72 children died from those injuries in 2001.

Children as young as three are strong enough to pull the triggers of many handguns. Over two thirds of the parents who own a gun and have school-aged children believe that their firearm is safely kept. Yet a nationwide study of first- and second-graders who had a firearm in their home found that 75-80 percent knew where the gun was kept (National Safe Kids).

The following web links and resources in this section are just an introduction to the resources available to assist in developing programs and activities that will reduce child and adolescent unintentional injury in the home and community.

 

-- Prevention is the BEST Protection
Maryland EMS for Children
2007